I've been thinking a lot about Judas. That name is familiar to us all as one who is envious, selfish, a traitor and evil. Judas was one of Jesus' trusted, chosen 12. Yet Judas proved anything but trustworthy.
I often wondered why Jesus chose Judas as one of the his close disciples. After all, scripture tells us that Jesus knew what Judas would do given the chance. Jesus knew Judas' love of money, yet Jesus put him in charge of the cash. Jesus knew Judas wanted power and wealth much more than he wanted an intimate relationship with Jesus. Jesus even predicted that it would be Judas, himself, that would betray him in the end. Yet...Jesus chose Judas as one of his trusted disciples.
God created each of us with human hearts and desires. He gives each of us a choice in the matters of life just as he did Adam and Eve. Each of us can choose right or wrong...it's our choice. Either way, we are responsible for our own choices. But those choices have consequences or rewards and each of us will either suffer the consequences for our wrong choices or enjoy the grace from our good choices.
The thing that struck me about Judas' choice was that he really "did" have a choice whether to betray our Lord or not. See, Jesus gave Judas every chance to choose to follow him - meaning to choose intimacy with Jesus instead of self. Judas hung on with the other 11 but held back, in his heart, his secret desires to belong to a kingdom of wealth and power here on earth. Scripture tells us that it wasn't until Jesus handed Judas a piece of bread at the Last Supper, and when Judas "took" the bread from Jesus, that he then passed the point of no return. In an instant! That final decision, at that final moment, was the difference between Judas receiving grace and salvation or eternal death.
Do I do this in my daily life? Do I choose the things of this world because they are comfortable, self edifying, will make me liked and accepted by piers, doesn't cost me anything or will benefit me in some way? What if Jesus was calling me to choose the opposite? Would I follow Jesus or self? Would my choice betray my Lord or glorify Him?
There is a lot of anger in our country today. Both sides claiming hate by the other. Scripture reminds us that to love is the greatest commandment. Will your choice be love or hate? Will it be to follow the example of our Lord or the example of Judas and think only of self? I choose love.
